Knitting machine



Sept. 28, 1948.

Filed Oct. 9, 1946' H. H. HOLMES I KNITTING MACHINE Ill/I I I 24 L Midi -7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorney Sept. 28, 1948. I H. H. HCiJLMES KNITTING MACHINE 7 sheets shee t 2 -.Fi1ed Oct. 9, 194a H. H. HOLMES KNITTING MACHINE Sept. 28, 1948.

'7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001.. 9, 1946 M Attorney I H. H. HOLMES KNITTING MACHINE Sept. 28, 1948.

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 9, 1946 Inventor,

Sept. 28, 1948.

Fiied Qct. 9, 1946 H. H. HOLMES KNITTING- MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Iiuenlor A llbrney Sept. 28, 1948.

H. H. HOLMES KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 9, 1946 I Inventor; M Mw A A ltorney Patented Sept. 28, 1948 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Application October 9, 1946, Serial No. 702,179 In Great Britain October 19, 1945 This invention relates to knitting machines for producing knitted fabric with terry loops, as will be hereinafter described.

As is well known, terry loops are formed from a thread or threads fed to the; knitting needles conjointly with a yarn or yarns, for example in plating relation, by drawing longer sinker loops of the thread or threads so that such loops project from one surface of the fabric and provide a soft feel, or plush or pile effect, which may be enhanced by combing or brushing the loops.

For the purpose of conciseness and distinction in the following further description and in the appended claims the" expression thread will be used with reference to the terry loops and the term yarn will be employed in respect of regularly' knitted primary stitches.

Thus thread and yarn maybe fed conjointly to a series of needles suchwise that while the two are fabricated to produce plated knitted loops, sinker loops of the thread are drawn longer than the corresponding loops of the yarn to produce terry loops.

One object of the present invention is to provide improved elements and mechanism foruse in the production of knitted fabric with terry loops, whereby certain advantages are achieved as: willibe hereinafter described.

Another object of the invention is to enable knitted fabric to be produced with terry loops in predetermined wales and courses so that patterns or de igns are produced in the knitted fabric, as well as fabric wherein, as the result of formation continuously in complete courses, or partial courses, and Wales, terry loops appear throughout the entire structure of the fabric or in a predetermined section or sections thereof, as will hereinafter be set forth.

For the purpose of producing terry loops it has heretofore been proposed to employ in a knitting machine sinkers with shoulders at different levels, the yarn to form regular loops being drawn over the lower shoulders and the thread for the terry loops being drawn over the higher shoulders. Another proposal involves the provision, in a circular coaxial cylinder knitting machine in addition tosinkers or web holders, a series ofv independently movable bits, the threadfor the terry loops being drawn over the said bits.

In the production of knitted fabric with broad K rib combinations or/and purl stitch formation in which, in. individual courses, numbers of adjacent loops are concatenated in one direction and the remainderare concatenated in. the opposite direction, it is desirable if not necessary 22 Claims.

in order to facilitate rib or purl stitch formation, to provide a tricked Verge or equivalent means to assist in knocking over the rib or/andpurl loops- Accordingly the present invention comprises, for the production of terry loops, elements with formations adapted to be presented to co-operating needles suchwise that the thread is drawn over the formations to produce the necessary long loops, and also adapted, in a knitting machine having two needle beds, to provide knocklug-over bits for the needles which function to concatenate knitted loops in the opposite direction to those concatenated by the needles which also produce terry loops.

Theinvention, therefore, is intended for application principally to knitting machines with two need-1e beds equipped with double-ended needies and sliders, and in this respect primarily to such machines of the links-link type, although it should be regarded as applicable to knitting machines of the type with independent series of needles in the respective beds.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into practical effect, a particular illustrative embodiment of the inventionas applied to a seamless hose machine of the circular links-links type with rotary needle cylinders, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I-I of Figure 2' of so much of the head of the said machine as is necessary to illustrate the application thereto of the improved terry mechanism.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the same showing more particularly the selector mechanism and also some of the connections operable from the control drum of the machine.

Figure 3 is a detail relating to the said connections, and as seen in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5.

Figure 4 is a detail side view of some of the connections as seen in the direction of the arrow Aln Figure 2.

Figures 5' and 6 are detail plan views of connections shown in respectively different positions for actuating certain of the cam slides employed in the control of the terry elements, as will be hereinafter described,

Figures '7 and 8 are fragmentary detail plan and vertical sectional views respectively illustrating the means by which the tricked cylindrical carrier for the terry elements is rigidly secured within the top cylinder so as to rotate in unison therewith.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional plan View taken on the line IXIX of Figure 1 illustrating cams used to control the positions of the terry elements.

Figure 10 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line X-X of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a side view of one of the terry elements per se.

Figure 12 is a diagram depicting a few of the terry elements and the appropriate cams necessary to illustrate the operation of the said elements when used as rib knocking-over bits.

Figure 13 is a further diagram somewhat similar to Figure 12 illustrating the sequence of operation of the terry elements during the formation of terry loops.

Figure 14 is a developed and diagrammatic set out of the butts on the terry elements.

Figure 15 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of a few needles and terry elements illustrating the knitting of ground yarn and terry thread, and

Figure 16 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 15 depicting operation of terry elements as knocking-over bits.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the machine comprises a bottom or plain needle cylinder I, a superimposed top or rib needle cylinder 2, double-ended needles such as 3 for operation in the cylinders, and bottom and top sliders 4 and 5 respectively for actuating the needles and for transferring the same from one cylinder to the other, according to requirements. The numeral 6 indicates the bottom cam box and 1 the top cam box of the machine.

In association with the top cylinder component, there is provided a circular series of elongated blade-like terry elements 8 arranged vertically in a longitudinally tricked cylindrical carrier 9. As shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8, this carrier is rigidly fixed within the top needle cylinder 2 y means of a locating and retaining ring It, a plurality of segments such as H which are provided with internally cut teeth Ila adapted for interengagement with teeth 9a formed by notching a circumferential rib or flange on the outside of the carrier 9 when cutting the longitudinal tricks 9b in the latter, and a carrier plate i2, all of which parts are clamped together and also to the top cylinder driving gear 13 by means of screws M. The carrier plate I2 bears and rotates upon a ball race IE, IS (Figure 1), located in a centrally recessed portion of the top plate I! of the machine and, by reason of the fact that the gear 13 is keyed to the top cylinder 2 as indicated at 18 in Figure 1, the said cylinder and the cylindrical carrier 9 for the terry elements 8 together constitute a unitary assemblage and accordingly rotate in unison. The ring l0 fits into a circumferential groove 20. formed in the upper end of the top needle cylinder 2 (see Figure 8), and thereby serves to locate the driving gear l3 in relation to the said cylinder. The ring ii] is made up of a plurality of segments one of which is clearly shown in plan in Figure 7, and there are four of the internally toothed segments II located at the positions a, b, c and d. Filling pieces l9 are provided between the segments 1 l to present together with the latter, a level surface upon which the carrier plate [2 takes a bearing when clamped down thereupon by the screws i4.

Each terry element 8 is formed, about midway between its ends, with a fulcrum 8a which contacts with the back of the corresponding trick 9b and enables the element to pivot in the trick. At the upper end each element is shaped as shown more clearly in Figure 11 to provide butts, viz., a vertical butt 8b and a lower horizontal butt 8c for use as hereinafter described. Below these butts are other butts M or Sdl and Be or 8el spaced at different levels for use respectively for terrying and verging. Between the butts 8d and 8e are auxiliary butts 8; for selective operation of the elements. Thus, each of the elements is initially formed with a pair of terrying butts and a lower pair of verging butts. Prior to insertion into the cylindrical carrier 9 however, certain of these butts are broken off in such a way that each of the elements 8 to form substantially one half of the complement has one of the terrying butts 8d and Ball and one at least of the verging butts 8e and 8el broken oif, each of the remaining elements having the other terrying butt and at least the other verging butt broken off. There are thus provided in the complete assemblage two half round series of terrying butts respectively in different vertical planes, and two half round series, or partial series, of rib knocking-over butts. Some of the elements in both halves of the full complement may have both rib knocking-over butts broken off according to the rib pattern to be produced. By rib knockingover butts are, of course, meant those butts which are acted upon to efiect the movements of the elements 8 necessary to cause the knockover of rib loops. It is preferred to provide each terry element 8 initially with a range of selecting butts and to break off unwanted butts to differentiate between elements preparatory to assembly of the elements in the carrier 9, for selective operation of the elements ultimately to produce a pattern or design in portions of the fabric composed of plain stitches. At the lower end each element 8 is shaped to provide a footlike portion 89 with a toe or tip for the purpose of holding the thread T in the formation of a terry loop. The toe or tip is hollowed on its upper edge to prevent premature release of a terry loop. The lower horizontal edge (sole) of the foot 89 provides a rib knocking-over edge.

Before proceeding with a description of the cams for operation upon the various butts and the associated mechanisms for controlling the terry elements, a specific set out of butts will now be described with reference to Figure 1%. In this figure the upper portions of a few of the elements 8 corresponding to the instep group of needles are indicated at I, whilst similar portions of a few of the remaining elements, corresponding to the heel and toe needles are indicated at H. Bearing in mind the foregoing description, the general set out of the butts will be clear. Thus, the group I of elements are provided with a complete series of terrying butts 8d, whilst the group H of said elements are provided with a complete series of terrying butts 8dl disposed in a lower vertical plane. Again, some of the terry elements of the group I are provided with rib knocking-over butts 8e whilst some of the elements of the group H have rib knocking-over butts Bel in a higher vertical plane. As will be appreciated, there is a terry element 8 to every needle 3 of the machine, and every such element is furnished with a. butt 8b which is used for effecting retraction of the operative extremity of the element at appropriate times, and also with a butt So for controlling the elevation of the element. As will be seen, those terry elements which have. no rib knocking-over butts are provided with auxiliary butts 8 1 arranged for use in the production of terry loop pattern effects or designs. Butts 807.

are required on every element in the instep. Group I when producing terry loops in the ring toe. For producing terry loop patterns TE in the instep, butts 81- are used. For producing, again in the instep, panels LL of links-links stitch effects and rib panels R (where the rib loops require to be removed from the needle hooks), rib knocking-over butts 8e are acted upon. When knitting a heel, a toe or a foot bottom on needles corresponding to terry elements of the group H, butts 8dl' are used for terry work so that, as will be understood, to produce all round terry both the butts 8d and Bdl require to be operated upon. In the production of all round terry pattern eirects, all of the butts 81 (according to the setout) must be used. Furthermore, to produce terry pattern effects in the instep in conjunction with a terry foot bottom butts 8] and Bdl only are used, the butts 8dl bringing all the terry elements of the group H into operation, thereby neutralising the pattern selected in the foot bottom portion by relevant butts 8f. Butts 8el are required for rib knocking-over and are at a higher elevation than the butts 8e to permit of actuation of the latter when making a terry foot bottom. During the making of a leg where all rib and links-links panels are required, the cams for operating upon the butts 8e and 861 are in operation together.

As shown in- Figure 1, there is associated with the terry elements 8 a conventional tricked verge 20 attached by' screws such as 2! to a carrier 2?. which is keyed slidably at 23 within the lower end of the cylindrical carrier 9. The foot-like ends 8g of the terry elements 8, which are disposed just above the customary inside sinkers or web holders 24 in the bottom cylinder component, are located in the tricks 20a of the verge 28 whereby the said ends are correctly aligned for projection between consecutive needles to function as required. In addition to constituting a guide for the terry elements during projection and retraction thereof, the verge 2B is used in the conventional manner for clearing welts, and for rib work, by the fabric contacting the edge 28b, but to enable it to function forthese purposes the terry elements must be withdrawn to the position indicated in Figure 1 so that their lower edges or soles, together with the adjoining lower edges of the walls of the tricks 20a provide behind the needles, an unbroken surface for contact with the work and of an extent sufiicient to enable the verge 2D to function as such. The saidtricked verge is movable vertically at required times to and from its operative position shown in Figure 1, by connections actuated from the control drum (not shown) of the machine. Thus, as will be seen, the carrier 22 of the verge is secured, by means of a screw 25, to the lower end of an axially movable hollow shaft 26 which extends up through a guide plate 21 fittedwithin the upper end of the cylindrical carrier 9 andis Non-nected through the medium of a collar 28,

trol the connections just described surrounds the hollow shaft 26 and is interposed between the guide plate 2? and the underside of the bottom collar 32. A ball race 34 arranged as shown takes the thrust from the spring 33. The forked end 29a of the lever 29 is furnished with pins 35 whereby it is located on the central free collar 28. The said lever is fulcrumed on a pin 36 carried by a socket 37.

For operating and controlling the terry elements 8 there is provided a cam system comprising several cams, the construction and arrangement. of which, will now be described. First there is a height cam 38 of arcuate form which is formed with a radial extension 38a attached by screws to the upper face of a bracket 39 bolted to the top plate I! of the machine, this cam serving to support the butts 8c and thereby position the elements 8 at the correct elevation. Further arcuate cams 49 and 4! complete the circle around the cylindrical carrier 9. The cam so is formed with a radial extension Mia attached to the top of a further bracket 42, whilst the cam has a similar extension lia secured. upon a bracket 43 also bolted to the aforesaid top plate IT. The single screw 44 serving to attach the cam extension did to the bracket 63 passes through an elongated opening 4! b formed in the said extension whereby, by slackening the screw, the cam ti can be withdrawn radially outwards to a limited extent between the adjacent ends of the cams 38 and ii} to provide an open space for the insertion or removal of terry elements respectively into or from the cylindrical carrier 9. The cam 41 therefore, constitutes a door which can be readily opened and closed for the purposes specified.

A further arcuate cam 45 of practically the same angular extent as the cam 38 is attached to the top of the latter by means of screws 46, and is formed. with a cam surface 45a for contact with the outer edges of the vertical butts 8b for the purpose of accurately'locating the terry elements 8 with their foot-like operative extremities 8g withdrawn within the needle circle. In other words, the said cam 45, which is recessed or undercut at 451) (see Figures 1 and 10) functions as a guard to limit the outward rocking movements of the vertical butts 8b.

To the top of the cam 45 are attached four cam pieces ll, 42, t9 and 50, each of which extends radially inwards over the tops of the vertical butts 8b and is formed with a downwardly projecting cam portion for action upon the backs of the said butts for effecting retraction of the terry elements 8 at their lower ends 8g to an inoperative position. Thus, the cam pieces 47 and Eli are formed with similarly outwardly shaped cam portions lla and 53a for effecting complete retraction of the lower ends 8g of the elements to return the latter to an, appropriate position for reselection at appropriate times. During such return of the elements any terry loops which may happen to be supported by the ends 89 will be cast oii. The cam portion lla is for use during reverse knitting, whilst the portion a performs the same purpose during forward knitting. By reverse knitting is meant knitting during the reverse movements of the needle cylinders during reciprocatory knitting. The cam pieces 28 and 49 are likewise formed with identical convex portions 48a and 49av for effecting partial retraction of the lower ends 8g to draw the terry loops inside the needle circle during knocking-over of knitted loops. Here again, the cam portions 48a and 49a are for use during reverse and forward knitting respectively. The cam pieces 4'5, 48, 49 and 5%} are attached to the top of the cam 45 by means of screws 5|, the said pieces being accurately located radially by ribbed formations 52 which fit in an arcuate recess 450 formed in the cam 45 (see Figures 2 and For action upon the terry butts 8d and Bdl there are provided two slide cams 53 and 54 respectively arranged for sliding movement radially in the upper portion of the bracket 39 which is suitably machined to receive them. As shown in Figure l, the slide cam 53 is furnished with an upstanding stud 55 arranged for action upon a compression spring 55 housed within a recessed portion of the bracket 39, the arrangement being such that the said cam is pressed inwards against the spring action operation upon the terr butts 8d and, when permitted, returns to its inoperative position under the said action. A further stud 51 on the slide cam 53 serves to limit the outward movement of the cam and determine its inoperatiVe position. The slide cam 54, on the other hand, is furnished with a downwardly projecting stud 58 for action upon a similar compression spring 59, a stud 68 being in this instance provided to determine the inoperative, i. e. outer position of the slide cam 54. For action respectively upon the rib knocking-over butts 8e and Bel there are provided two further slide cams 5i and 62 arranged to slide within the lower portion of the bracket 33.

When the slide cams 53 and 54 are pressed in against the spring action (by mechanism later to be described), their operative, i. e. inner ends press on the terrying butts 8d and Bell to effect projection of the lower foot-like ends 8g of the elements 8 for the formation of terry loops as, say, during production of a terry heel, sole, toe or ring toe. It is tobe clearly understood that the said elements are not raised by this action. When, on the other hand, the slide cams s1 and 62 are moved in their shaped operative ends em and 62a (see Figure 12) raise the rib knockingover butts 8e and Sel to bring the vertical butts 81) into contact with a cam 63 whereby the footlike ends 8 of the elements are projected from the tricked verge 2B. The cam 63 is let into the top of the cam 45 and secured by a screw 64 (Figure 2). A plan of the cam 63 to show the shape thereof is depicted at the top of Figure 12.

For operating the slide cams 53 and 54 there is provided as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a cam slide 55 which is slidable vertically through slots 55a and 54a (see Figure 9 for shape of slots), formed in the said cams 53 and 54 respectively, and also through a slot 381) formed in the narrowed outer end portion, of the radial extension 38a of the cam 38. The cam slide 65, which is formed with an inclined inner edge portion 65a, is supported by contact of its outer straight edge with the outer end of the slot 381). At its lower end the cam slide 65 is attached to a lever 65 which is rigidly secured to one end of a shaft fill mounted to turn in a bearing 68a formed in a bracket '33 attached to the top plate of the machine. To the opposite end of the said shaft is secured a lever 69 which is connected, through the medium of a link it, with a lever ii (Figure 2) adapted to be actuated by a two step cam (not shown) on the control drum. The construction and arrangement is such that upon a partial movement of the two step cam to bring the first step thereof under the toe of the lever ii, the connections are actuated to raise the camslide to an extent suficient to bring the inclined edge portion 65a thereof into contact with the inner end of the slot 54a in the slide cam 54 thereby causing the latter to move in against the action of the spring 59 for operation upon the terrying butts Bell. Further upward movement of the cam slide 65 as a result of the second step of the aforesaid two step cam contacting the toeof the lever ll, brings the edge 65a in contact with the inner end of the slot 53a in the upper slide cam 53, thereby pressing in the latter against the action of the spring 56 for action upon the terrying butts 8d.

The connections for operating the slide cams iii and 52 from the control drum will now be briefly described with reference principally to Figures 2-6. As will be seen, the rear ends of slide cams 5i and 62 are formed at their outer sides with recesses Gib and 521) respectively into which are inserted specially formed inner ends 12a and 13a of operating levers l2 and 13. These levers are pivoted together upon a fulcrum pin '54 and are connected by a pin and slot connection i5, i6 permitting lost motion between them. Adjacent to their shaped ends aforesaid the inper sides of the said operatin levers are formed with opposed recesses in which are located the ends of a small compression spring 11 serving normally to keep the pin is at the appropriate end-cf the slot it as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 5. A detail'of the inner ends of the operating levers l2 and it, with the compression spring il in position holding them apart, is shown in Fi ure 3. The levers i2 and i3 although capable of acting together as a single lever, can nevertheless move independently of each other as occasion demands. The operating lever 73 is attached by a short link 13 (see more particularly Figure 4) to a bell crank 18 pivoted on a bracket 8% attached to the underside of the top plate H. Through the medium of a further link Bl the said bell crank is connected to a lever 32, the toe of which is arranged to be acted upon by a further two step cam on the control drum. When, therefore, the toe of the lever 82 is acted upon by the first step of this cam, the bell crank '58 is turned to move the link in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5 as a result of which, the operative end 65a of the slide cam 61 is pressed up to the cylindrical carrier 9 for action upon the lower rib knocking-over butts 32 of the terry elements. Moreover, when the bell crank 19 is turned to a further extent in the same direction as the result of the toe of the lever 82 being acted upon by the second step of the appropriate two step cam, the spring it will be compressed as illustrated in Figure 6 and the operative end 62a of the slide cam will accordingly also be pressed up to the cylindrical carrier 9 for action upon the upper rib knocking-over butts Bel. Thus, in Fig ure 5, only one of the slide cams 6i and 62 is in action for operation upon the instep rib knocking-over butts only, whereas in Figure 6 both of the said cams are in action for opera tion upon all of the rib knocking-over butts.

For action upon the butts 8) there are provided pivoted selector levers 83 arranged one above the other in a bank and adapted for actuation selectively from a pattern drum 84 (Figure 2). T said selector levers are pivoted at 85 beneath an upper carrier plate 86 to the underside of which is attached a slotted guide 81 for the inner ends the selector levers. The plate 86 is pivoted at 88 and controlled by a tension spring 89 whereby at such times as the drum 84 is not required, the

said plate is drawn to a position in which the selector levers 83 are clear of the butts 8 For turning the plate 88 against the action of the spring 89 to move the selector levers into position and, conversely, for permitting the plate to move under the said action to withdraw the selector levers at appropriate times, there is provided a lever 90 which is pivoted at 9I and formed with a nose 90a for contact with the appropriate edge of the plate. Arranged in contact with the outer end of the lever 99 is a further lever 92 which is pivoted on a bracket 93 secured beneath the top plate I! and is connected with a'drum lever 94 through a link 95. The pattern drum 34 is fitted with pegs or equivalent such as 96 suitably prearranged according to patterning requirements for action upon noses 83a on the selector levers 83. Attached to the drum 94 is a ratchet wheel 91 adapted for co-operation with pawls 98 and 99 for reverse racking. A bluff I09 formed with an arcuate portion 39a arranged to shield the ratchet teeth is pivoted at 88 and movable angularly to bluif and render ineffective one or the other of the two pawls, according to requirements. This bluff is controlled from a patterning chain (not shown) through the medium of connections IIH, I92, I93 and I03 The two oppositely disposed pawls 98 and 99 are pivotally mounted upon a rack slide IM and connected by a tension spring I95 by which they are controlled. The rack slide I94 is guided by the lower end of the axle 88 and a bolt I96, and is furnished with a roller III? for co-operation with a rotary cam I08 mounted on a layshaft I99 which rotates in a bearing I Ill and carries the conventional cylinder drive gears. A tension spring III, arranged as shown, serves to control the rack slide I94 and maintain the roller Ill! in contact with the cam I08.

For the selective transference of needles 3 from the bottom cylinder to the top cylinder e. g. for links-links pattern effects the machine may conveniently be equipped with slider selecting mechanism of the general character described in the specification of prior United Kingdom Letters Patent No. 475,288. In Figure 1, one of the sliders 4 and an associated patterning jack II2 of such mechanism are shown. Mounted on the customary bottom plate I I3 of the machine is a cam box extension H4, a cam H5 in the bottom cam box 6 serving to locate the sliders 4 in their correct positions.

Referring now to Figure 15, it will be seen that the shaded terry thread T and the unshaded ground yarn G are in the course of being taken and knitted by a succession of plain needles 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d, the needle 3d being depicted as drawing new loops of the said thread and yarn through the loops knitted at the previous course. The needles 3b and 3c are drawing the thread T over the operative extremities 8g of the terry elements 8 to form elongated sinker, i. e. terry loops. The sinker loops of the ground yarn G are of normal length so that the outer face .of the finished fabric will have a normal appearance. In Figure fragmentary portions of the holding down sinkers or Webb holders are indicated at .24, and 24 represents a portion of the sinker bed.

In Figure 16, the needles 3e are shown knittin rib. The foot-like extremity 8g of the terry element at the right-hand side of the figure is forming a terry loop in conjunction with descendin needles 3b and 3c in the bottom needle cylinder, whilst the extremities 8g of those terry elements operating with the rib needles 3e are functioning n val 10 as rib knock-over bitstheir lower edges or soles contacting the sinker loops sl for this purpose.

Figure 12 purports to illustrate the action of the terry elements 8 when used as rib knockingover bits. The cam portion 62a of the slide cam 62 is shown raising the said elements by action on the rib knocking-over butts Bel. As a result of this action the vertical butts 8b of these elements are raised for contact with the cam 63 by means of which latter the vertical butts 8b are moved partially inwards to effect outward movement of the foot-like extremities 8h of the elements 8 from the tricks 20a of the tricked verge ring 20. In this way the rib knock-over elements have the extremity 8h passing over the feed hole 'I I6a and is therefore prevented from making contact with the terry thread T. To permit the appropriate terry elements to lift under the action of the raising cam 62 the underside of the cam 45 is recessed at 45d this recess having an inclined face 45c serving to depress the butts Bel and return the elements to normal height coinciding with the rib knock-over position. The thread T is fed through a hole IIBa in the latchguard feeder II6, whilst the ground yarn G is fed through slot II6b.

Figure 13 illustrates purely diagrammatically the sequence of the movements of terry elements 8 for the formation of terry loops. First, the footlike extremities 8g of the appropriate elements are projected radially outwards by contact of their terrying butts M or Bdl with the slide cam 53 or 54, as the case may be, the tips of the said extremities as a result lightly contacting the latch guard [I6 immediately beneath the hole IIEa therein, viz., at the level X and taking the terry thread T in the manner shown in Figure 15. The elements 8 are at this time travelling in the direction oi the arrow in Figure 13. Then, at approximately the loop forming point, the cam portion 49a effects partial withdrawal of the tips of the foot-like extremities 89 which tips serve to control the terry loops after they have been formed. Thereafter, the tips of the elements are completely Withdrawn from contact with the terry loops by action of the cam portion 50a, shedding of these loops taking place within the needle circle, where they are free from interference by the needles 3.

It will be observed from a comparison of Figures 12 and 13 that it is impossible for a terry element of the rib knock-over group to take the thread T owing to the action of the slide cam portions 6Ia and 62a.

Referring to Figure 11, it will probably facilitate the description to point out that 872 is where a terry loop is retained and 81' represents the rib knocking-over edge.

If desired, a cam may be provided for imparting a certain amount of vertical movement to operative elements to synchronise with the lifting of the needles after the knock-over point and assist in clearing the knitted loop and so obtain uniformity of fabric. Further, additional vertical movement may be effected after completing the formation of the terry loops, the elements being lowered to press the formed terry loops down to the ground fabric. This is to prevent the element piercing the terry loop formed at the previous course.

By means of the present invention and appropriate operation of the terry elements a it is possible to produce terry loops throughout plain fabric or terry loops restricted to selected portions in combination with rib fabric or linkslinks fabric including links-links patterns or not, according to the machine employed. With selective operation of the terry elements it is possible to produce (a) knitted fabric with pattern effects or designs constituted by terry looping, and by combining selective operation with seriatim operation of a lesser number of elements, in desired sequence, it is possible to produce (b) knitted fabric with such pattern effects or designs in a desired area or areas and with terry loops restricted to a selected section or sections.

What I claim then is:

1. In a knitting machine, in combination, needles and terry elements with formations adapted to be presented for co-operation with desired needles suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the formations by the said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, said formations being also adapted to provide knocking-over bits for needles which function to concatenate knitted loops in the opposite direction to those concatenated by the needles which also produce terry loops.

2. In a knitting machine, in combination, two needle beds, needles for operation in said beds, and terry elements with formations adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in one of said beds suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the formations by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, said formations being also adapted to provide bits to assist in knocking-over loops drawn by needles in the other bed.

3. In a knitting machine, in combination, two needle beds, needles for operation in said beds, terry elements with formations adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in one of said beds suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the formations by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, said formations being also adapted to provide bits to assist in knocking-over loops drawn by needles in the other bed, and the elements being arranged for movement individually towards and from the needles by which terry loops are to be produced, and means for operating the terry elements in such a way that all of the said elements can be positioned for producing terry loops in plain knitted fabric.

4. In a knitting machine, in combination, plain and rib needle beds, needles for operation in said beds, terry elements with formations adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in the plain bed suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the formations by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, said formations being also adapted to provide bits to assist in knocking-over loops drawn by needles in the rib bed, and the elements being arranged for movement individually towards and from the needles by which terry loops are to be produced, and means for operating the terry elements in such a way that some of said elements can be positioned for producing terry loops in plain stitch portions of knitted fabric while others are positioned to present bits to assist in knocking over rib or purl loops.

5. In a circular seamless hose or half hose machine, in combination, plain and rib needle cylinders, adapted to operate with rotary as well as with reciprocatory motion needles for operation in said cylinders, needles in the plain cylinder being divided into two groups, i. e. instep needles and heel and toe needles, terry elements with formations adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in the plain cylinder suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the formations by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry loops, said formations being also adapted to provide bits to assist in knocking over loops drawn by needles in the rib cylinder and the elements being arranged for movement individually towards and from the needles by which terry loops are to be produced, and means for operating the terry elements in such a way that some of the said elements can be positioned for producing terry loops in plain knitted sections of fabric while others are withdrawn to a wholly inoperative position to provide clearance for lengths of terry thread and main yarn which are not knitted by the instep needles during reciprocatory knitting.

6. In a knitting machine, in combination, two needle beds, needles for operation in said beds, terry elements with formations adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in one of said beds suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the formations by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, said formations being also adapted to provde bits to assist in knocking over loops drawn by needles in the other bed, and a selecting mechanism for enabling the terry elements to be selectively operated thereby to produce pattern efiects constituted by terry loops.

7; In a knitting machine, in combination, two needle beds, needles for operation in said beds, and terry elements arranged to operate with movement transversely to the line of the needles and having formations adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in one of said beds suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the formations by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, said formations beins also adapted to provide bits to assist in knocking over loops drawn by needle-s in the other bed.

8. In a knitting machine, in combination, two needles beds, needles for operation in said beds, and terry elements consisting of elongated blades having foot-like formations with tips adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in one of said beds suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the tips by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, said formations also having edges angularly disposed with respect to the edges of the blades whereby in a complement of blades the said angularly disposed edges can function for knocking-over.

9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein the terry blades are mounted in a bed tricked to receive them. 7

10. In a circular knitting machine, in combina tion, two co-axially arranged needle cylinders, needle-s for operation in said cylinders, a tricked cylindrical bed arranged concentrically with respect to the co-axial needle cylinders, and terry elements arranged in the tricks of the said bed,

said elements consisting of elongated blades havsinkers associated with said cylinder, a superimposed top needle cylinder co-axially arranged with respect to said bottom needle cylinder, needles for operation in said cylinders, a longitudinally tricked cylindrical carrier arranged concentrically within the top needle cylinder, and a circular complement of terry elements equal in number to the full complement of needles, arranged in the tricks in the said carrier, said elements consisting of vertical blades having footlike formations with tips located between the opposing ends of the cylinders, just above the sinkers, for co-operation with needles in the bottom cylinder suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the tips by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, the lower portions of the aforesaid formations being capable of functioning as knocking-over bits for needles operating in the top cylinder.

12. In a knitting machine, in combination, two tricked needle beds, needles for operation in the tricks in said beds, a further tricked bed the tricks in which alternate with the needle tricks, and terry elements mounted in the tricks in the said further bed, said elements consisting of elongated blades having foot-like formations with tips adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in one of said beds suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the tips by the said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops and so that during production of such terry loops the participant formation of each operative terry blade is disposed between consecutive oo-operating needles, said formations also having edges angul-arly disposed with respect to the edges of the blades whereby in a complement of blades the said angularly disposed edges are adapted to function for knocking-over the operative opposite needles working in the respective spaces between consecutive blades.

13. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, two co-axially arranged needle cylinders, needles for operation in said cylinders, a tricked cylindrical bed arranged concentrically with respect to the co-axial needle cylinders, terry elements arranged in the tricks of the said bed, said elements consisting of elongated blades adapted for rocking movement in their tricks and having foot-like formations with tips which are projectable radially relatively to the needles from a retracted (inoperative) position to an outer position between respective consecutive needles in one of the cylinders for co-operation with the latter suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the tips by said needles to produce long sinker, l. e. terry, loops, said formations also having edges angularly disposed with respect to the edges of the blades whereby in a complement of blades the said angularly disposed edges are adapted to function for knocking-over and means for effecting projection and withdrawal of the said formations at required times.

14. In a knitting machine, in combination, two needle beds, needles for operation in said beds, terry elements with formations adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in one of said beds suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the formations by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, said formations being also adapted to provide bits to assist in knocking-over loops drawn by needles in the other bed, and the terry elements being provided with butts, and a cam system adapted for action upon the butts to eifect seriatim operation of desired elements, said butt and cam system including a se- 1 41 ries of butts and calms for effecting retraction of all of the elements to an inoperative position, further series of butts and cams adapted for moving desired elements to terrying position, and still further series of butts and cams adapted for moving desired elements to knocking-over position.

15. In a knittin machine, in combination, two needle beds, needles for operation in said beds, terry elements with formations adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in one of said beds suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the formations by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, said formations being also adapted to provide bits to assist in knocking over loops drawn by needles in the other bed, and the terry elements being provided with butts, a cam system adapted for action upon the butts to effect seriatim operation of desired elements, said butt .and cam system including a series of butts and cams for effecting retraction of all Of the elements to an inoperative position, further series of butts and cams adapted for moving desired elements to terrying position, still further series of butts and cams adapted for moving desired elements to knocking-over position, and auxiliary butts adapted for differentiation of the elements, and a pattern controlled variable selecting mechanism for action upon said auxiliary butts, for the purpose described.

16. In a circular seamless hose or half hose machine, in combination, superimposed co-axlal plain and rib needle cylinders adapted to operate with rotary as well as with recipro-catorymotion, needles for operation in said cylinders, needles in the plain cylinder being divided into instep needles and heel and toe needles, sliders for actuating the needles and for transferring same from one cylinder to the other as occasion demands, a cylindrical bed arranged concentrically within the top cylinder, terry elements mounted in said bed, said elements having formations adapted to be presented for co -operation with needles in the plain cylinder suchwise that a terry thread canv be drawn over the formations by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry loops, said formations being also adapted to provide bits to assist in knocking over loops drawn by needles in the rib cylinder and the elements being arranged for movement individually towards and from the needles by which terry loops are to be produced, and means for operating the terry elements.

17. In a circular seamless hose or half hose machine, in combination, superimposed co-axial plain and rib needle cylinders adapted to operate with rotary as well as with reciprocatory motion, needles for operation in said cylinders, needles in the plain cylinder being divided into instep needles and heel and toe needles, sliders for actuating the needles and for transferring same from one cylinder to the other as occasion demands, a cylindrical bed arranged concentrically within the top cylinder, terry elements mounted in said bed, said elements being furnished with butts and having formations adapted to be presented for co-operation with needles in the plain cylinder suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the formations by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry loops, said formations being also adapted to provide bits to assist in knocking over loops drawn by needles in the rib cylinder and the elements being arranged for movement individually towards and from the needles by which terry loops are to be produced, means for operating the terry elements, a cam systemadapted for action upon the butts to efi'ect seriatim operation of desired elements, said butt and cam system including a series of butts and cams for eifecting retraction of all of the elements to an inoperative position, further series of butts and cams adapted for moving desired elements to terrying position, and still further series of butts and cams adapted for moving desired elements to knocking-over position.

18. A combination according to claim 17, wherein there are two half round series of terrying butts respectively in difierent vertical planes and similarly, two half round partial series of knocking-over butts.

19. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a bottom needle cylinder, a circular series of sinkers associated with said cylinder, a superimposed top needle cylinder co-axially arranged with respect to said bottom needle cylinder, a longitudinally tricked carrier arranged concentrically within the top needle cylinder, a conventional tricked verge which is associated with the top cylinder component and located just above the sinkers, needles for operation in said cylinders, and a circular complement of terry elements, equal in number to the full complement of needles, arranged to rock in the tricks in the said carrier, said elements consisting of vertical blades having foot-like formations with tips located in the aforesaid verge so that they are correctly aligned for projection radially between and for co-operation with consecutive needles in the bottom needle cylinder suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the tips by said needles to produce long sinker, i. e. terry, loops, the lower portions of the aforesaid formations being capable of functioning as knocking-over bits, working in conjunction with the tricked verge for co-operation with needles operating in the top needle cylinder.

20. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a bottom needle cylinder, a circular series of sinkers associated with said cylinder, a superimposed top needle cylinder co-axially arranged with respect to said bottom needle cylinder, a longitudinally tricked carrier arranged concentrically within the top needle cylinder, a conventlonal tricked verge which is associated with the top cylinder component and located 'just above the sinkers, needles for operation in said cylinders, means for effecting selective transfer of needles from one cylinder to the other a circular series of terry elements equal in number to the full complement of needles, arranged to rock in the tricks in the said carrier, said elements consisting of vertical blades having foot-like formations with tips located in the aforesaid verge so that they are correctly aligned for projection radially between and for co-operation with consecutive needles in the bottom needle cylinder suchwise that a terry thread can be drawn over the tips by said needles to produce terry loops, and means for selectively operating the terry elements, during selective rib knitting, so that the sole portions of the aforesaid foot-like formations function as knocking-over bits in the verge.

21. A terry instrument comprising a blade the operative end of which is shaped to provide a foot-like formation with a tip for holding terry thread, the sole of the said formation being adapted to present a knocking-over edge.

22. A terry instrument comprising a blade formed on its frontal edge with operatin butts and with a fulcrum at its rear edge the operative end of the said blade having a foot-like formation which extends at right angles thereto, and has a tip for holding terry thread, the sole of the said formation being adapted to present a knockingover edge.

HENRY HAROLD HOLMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,231,399 Thurston Feb, 11, 1941 2,370,449 Clarke Feb. 27, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 385,088 Great Britain Dec. 22, 1932 

